Dominican Republic apologizes for ex-president's 'birther' remark

4/16/12 5:02 PM EDT

The former president of the Dominican Republic, currently running to reclaim his job, seems to believe the false theory that President Obama was born in Africa — prompting the Dominican Republic’s Senate to issue a formal apology late last week.

"If Obama, who came from Africa, and grew up over there can become president, why can't any of you reach as high?" said Hipólito Mejía, loosely translated, to a group of New York City clergy on April 4th.

Thirty-one of the Dominican Republic’s 32-member senate Senate approved a resolution Thursday condemning the remarks, calling them "unfortunate" and a "disrespectful insult." One senator, a political ally of Mejía, refused to sign the apology.

Mejía, who was president of the DR from 2000 to 2004, is currently running against Danilo Medina of the incumbent Dominican Liberation Party.

Mejía's New York talk was organized by New York State Sen. Ruben Diaz (D), in his role as President of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization. A request for comment from Diaz's office was not immediately returned.

Obama, who was born in Hawaii to a Kenyan father and a white American mother, has faced continual speculation and conspiracy theorizing about his birthplace despite releasing documentation about his birth in Honolulu in 1961 — documents that have been verified by the state of Hawaii and independent investigations.